HDML 1069
Watercraft, West Molesey 28/5/41
London Gazette 10/11/42 – For services during the withdrawal from Tobruk 1942
- DSM AB Noel Jack Johnston PM/3322 RANR
Known Crew
- TALt Cdr A G Brooks RNR Lt 4/7/41 101st ML Flotilla Based at Alexandria, Egypt Commanding Officer HDML 1069 1942 TALtCdr HMS Saker (Washington DC)
- Lt Morton HDML 1069
- Lt Thomas HDML 1069
- Mid Desmond Cyril Gurney Simpson 101st ML Flotilla Based at Alexandria, Egypt HDML 1069 Killed in action on Saturday 20 June 1942 Age: 18. Son of Cyril George Simpson and Mary Alice Margaret Simpson (nee Bond), of Winchelsea, Sussex
- AB Anthony James Thomas Gilmore D/JX 186868 101st ML Flotilla Based at Alexandria, Egypt HDML 1069 Killed in action 20/06/1942
- AB Noel Jack Johnston PM/3322 RANR 101st ML Flotilla Based at Alexandria, Egypt HDML 1069 For services during the withdrawal from Tobruk 1942 DSM Wounded in five places he brought the damaged vessel back alongside and then collapsed before being rescued by personnel from ML 355
- AB James Vincent Lang C/SSX 23874 101st ML Flotilla Based Alexandria, Egypt HDML 1069 Killed in action 20/06/1942, aged 21, when HDML 1069 was lost. Son of George and Florence Brandis Lang, of Erith, Kent
- AB A Morris X21205A RNR *101st ML Flotilla Based at Alexandria, Egypt HDML 1069
- MtrMch J Ashley D/MX70134 101st ML Flotilla Based at Alexandria HDML 1069*
- Sto B S W Biggs KX120146 101st ML Flotilla Based at Alexandria HDML 1069*
- Tel T R Gilfroy D/JX170916 101st ML Flotilla Based at Alexandria HDML 1069*
= Survivor rescued by ML 355
Wartime Activities
- 1/1/42 101st ML Flotilla
Based at Alexandria, Egypt
ML 1004, ML 1005, ML 1007, ML 1032 are delivered. ML 1046 and ML 1069 are being freighted. ML 1079 and ML 1083 are awaiting freighting. - 17/3/42 At 23.03, U-83 fired a spread of three torpedoes at a steamer in convoy AT-34 near Tobruk and missed. At 23.17, one torpedo was fired that hit Crista and set her on fire. Two officers and five ratings were lost. The survivors abandoned ship and were picked up by the South African M/S whaler HMSAS Bokburg.
The abandoned Crista was located by the British motor torpedo boat MTB-266, which anchored her off Bardia where the fires were extinguished. She was taken in tow by HMS St. Monance (W 63) to Alexandria for repairs, escorted by the British armed trawler HMS Southern Isle and the British motor launches HMS ML-1005 and HMS ML-1069, arriving on 28 March - 1942 Withdrawal from Tobruk
- 28-9/5/42 During the night, enemy tanks were reported to be attempting to reach the coast in longitude 23 40E. HDML 1069 was reinforced by two MTBs and drove off two E boats in this area. It was possible that this defeated an enemy attempt to fuel tanks20/6/42 Tasked with recovering demolition parties.
- 1800 Attempted to sail from Tobruk but was hit by a shell within 100 yds of leaving the berth and again by shells from a Panzer on the road at the head of the harbour. On fire, the vessel signalled for medical assistance and returned to the jetty. Five survivors were taken aboard ML 355 and the vessel was abandoned to be captured by Axis forces. There was at least one German tank within 300 yds of the vessel when ML 355 rescued the survivors. Four personnel from ML 355 were decorated for services during the withdrawal from Tobruk 1942.
